Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire technology accelerator BetaDen have launched an industry-first Cleantech bootcamp to help businesses develop and commercialise solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges facing industries around the world.
BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and will see leading figures from the Cleantech world bringing their expertise to Worcestershire, helping Cleantech entrepreneurs and established businesses alike develop the technologies required to lead industry supply chains to a Net Zero future.
The programme, which is delivered by Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT), brings to life the real issues and opportunities for businesses arising out of the push towards Net Zero.
The significance was brought even more sharply into focus at COP26, where over 40 governments signed up to ‘the Glasgow Breakthroughs’ – a series of commitments to speed up the development of clean technologies to help achieve key climate targets by 2030.
Ostap Paparega, head of North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp is a fantastic opportunity for start-up, scale-up and established businesses to access specialist support to develop their Cleantech ideas.
“Promoting low- and zero-carbon technologies is a key part of the county’s industrial strategy and we have a wealth of innovative companies here that have the potential to make a real difference.”
The pilot programme will begin on 24 February with a series of four workshops, delivered by some of the industry’s leading lights and illustrating issues and challenges facing business as well as highlighting significant opportunities for Cleantech innovators.
Eight companies will then be chosen to join a specialist Cleantech bootcamp, with participants receiving professional mentoring, commercialisation support and access to marketing funds to develop their ideas, before taking part in Dragon’s Den-style pitch to potential customers, partners and investors.
Linda Smith, founder and CEO of technology accelerator BetaDen, said: “The BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp is a pioneering programme that paves the way for a nationally significant Centre of Excellence for carbon reducing technologies to develop in the region.
“Participants will have access to advice and support from innovators who have truly been there and done it in this emerging field, helping them shape their ideas to provide real world solutions for real world problems.”
Companies and individuals interesting in joining the programme should register their interest at www.betaden-north.co.uk Workshops will take place at Wyre Forest House in Worcestershire from 24 February, with applications for the bootcamp programme closing on 25 March. The bootcamp runs for eight weeks from 25 April, culminating in a live pitch event in June.
